Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences - Department of Laser Applications in Medical and Biological

Background: Onychomycosis is a widespread public health problem, in which T. rubrum and T. mentagro-phytes is the commenest causative organisms. Current medical therapy has many drawbacks and sideeffects. Methylene blue (m.b) photodynamic therapy (pdt) proved efficacy but with lengthy sessions.Objectives: Optimizing methylene blue photodynamic therapy by combination of methylene blue pho-tosensitizer and gold nanoparticles (aunps) in a composite as gold nanoparticles are efficient delivery systems and efficient enhancers of photosensitizers for antifungal photodynamic therapy. Materials and methods: Eighty newzealand rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used and categorized ineight equal groups as follows; healthy and infection control, composite photodynamic therapy and five comparative groups. Photodynamic therapy was initiated at day three to five post inoculation, for four sessions forty-eight hours apart. Each group divided and light exposure at two fluencies; 80 J and 100 J. All groups were investigated macroscopically and microscopically (histopathology and scanning electron microscope) also flowcytometry assessment for cell death and X-ray analysis for gold nanoparticles accumulation in brain and liver tissues were determined

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